U.S. patent application number 16/536739 was filed with the patent office on 2020-04-02 for fixing device and image forming apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Oki Data Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Oki Data Corporation. Invention is credited to Takaaki FURUKAWA.
Application Number | 20200103804 16/536739 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67551154 |
Filed Date | 2020-04-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200103804 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FURUKAWA; Takaaki |
April 2, 2020 |
FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
Abstract
A fixing device includes: a belt; a heating element that heats
the belt; and a pressure member that faces the belt and forms a nip
portion between the pressure member and the belt. A dielectric
relaxation rate of the belt 10 seconds after applying a corona
discharge at 7000 V to the belt is greater than or equal to 9.5%
and less than or equal to 28.9%.
Inventors: |
FURUKAWA; Takaaki; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Oki Data Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Oki Data Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
67551154 |
Appl. No.: |
16/536739 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G 15/2057 20130101;
G03G 2215/2016 20130101; G03G 2215/2022 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G03G 15/20 20060101
G03G015/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 27, 2018 |
JP |
2018-181189 |
Claims
1. A fixing device comprising: a belt including: a substrate; an
elastic layer formed on a surface of the substrate; and a surface
layer formed on a surface of the elastic layer; a heating element
that heats the belt; and a pressure member that faces the belt and
forms a nip portion between the pressure member and the belt,
wherein a dielectric relaxation rate of the belt 10 seconds after
applying a corona discharge at 7000 V to the belt is greater than
or equal to 9.5% and less than or equal to 28.9%.
2. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric relaxation
rate of the belt 10 seconds after applying a corona discharge at
7000 V to the belt is greater than or equal to 10.1% and less than
or equal to 27.4%.
3. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the substrate includes: an
insulating layer located on an innermost side of the belt; and a
conductive layer formed on a surface of the insulating layer, and
wherein the elastic layer is formed on a surface of the conductive
layer
4. The fixing device of claim 3, wherein the insulating layer
comprises polyimide, polyphenylene sulfide, or polyether ether
ketone.
5. The fixing device of claim 3, wherein the conductive layer
comprises a resin and a conductivity imparting agent dispersed in
the resin.
6. The fixing device of claim 5, wherein the conductivity imparting
agent is metal or carbon material.
7. The fixing device of claim 3, wherein the elastic layer
comprises silicone rubber or fluorine resin.
8. The fixing device of claim 3, wherein the surface layer
comprises fluorine resin.
9. The fixing device of claim 1, further comprising, inside the
belt, a fixing member disposed so that the belt is sandwiched
between the fixing member and the pressure member.
10. The fixing device of claim 9, further comprising, inside the
belt, a pressing member disposed adjacent to the fixing member in a
moving direction of the belt so that the belt is sandwiched between
the pressing member and the pressure member.
11. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the heating element is
disposed inside the belt.
12. The fixing device of claim 1, further comprising a temperature
sensor disposed in contact with an inner surface of the belt.
13. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming portion
that forms a developer image on a medium; and the fixing device of
claim 1 that fixes the developer image to the medium.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a fixing device and an
image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] A fixing device that fixes developer to a medium includes an
endless belt, a heating element that heats the belt, and a pressure
member that forms a nip portion between the pressure member and the
belt (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Publication No.
2013-250393).
[0003] The belt moves in contact with members, such as a
temperature sensor, and thus is frictionally charged. When charge
accumulates on the belt, paper dust or developer can adhere to the
belt due to the electrostatic force, thereby causing image
unevenness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An object of an aspect of the present invention is to reduce
accumulation of charge on a belt and reduce adhesion of paper dust
or developer to the belt.
[0005] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a fixing device including: a belt; a heating element that
heats the belt; and a pressure member that faces the belt and forms
a nip portion between the pressure member and the belt. A
dielectric relaxation rate of the belt 10 seconds after applying a
corona discharge at 7000 V to the belt is greater than or equal to
9.5% and less than or equal to 28.9%.
[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an image forming apparatus including: an image forming
portion that forms a developer image on a medium; and the above
fixing device that fixes the developer image to the medium.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] In the attached drawings:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image
forming apparatus of an embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a configuration of a
process unit of the embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a configuration of a
fixing device of the embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a sectional structure of a
fixing belt of the embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of
the image forming apparatus of the embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of
image unevenness caused by paper dust adhering to the fixing
belt;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method of
measuring a dielectric relaxation rate; and
[0015] FIG. 8 is a table showing experimental results.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described
with reference to the attached drawings.
<Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus>
[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an image forming apparatus 1
including a fixing device 2 according to an embodiment of the
present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on
a medium, such as a print sheet, by using electrophotography. The
image forming apparatus 1 is a printer in the example illustrated
in FIG. 1, but may be a copier, a multifunction peripheral (MFP),
or a facsimile machine. Also, the image forming apparatus 1 is a
color image forming apparatus for forming a color image in the
example illustrated in FIG. 1, but may be a monochrome image
forming apparatus for forming a monochrome image.
[0018] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a sheet feed
mechanism 7 that feeds a medium P, such as a print sheet, an image
forming portion 5 that forms a toner image (or developer image) on
the fed medium P, the fixing device 2 that fixes the toner image to
the medium P, and a sheet discharge mechanism 9 that discharges the
medium P. The sheet feed mechanism 7 includes a sheet feed cassette
70 that stores media P, such as print sheets, in a stacked state, a
pickup roller 71 that feeds the media P loaded in the sheet feed
cassette 70, a feed roller 72 and a retard roller 73 that separate
the fed media P one by one and feeds it to a conveying path A, and
pairs of conveying rollers 74 and 75 that convey the medium P fed
to the conveying path A to the image forming portion 5.
[0019] The image forming portion 5 includes process units 10K, 10Y,
10M, and 10C as image forming units that respectively form black,
yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images, and a transfer unit 8 that
transfers the toner images formed by the process units 10K, 10Y,
10M, and 10C onto the medium P.
[0020] The process units 10K, 10Y, 10M, and 10C are arranged in
order along the conveying path of the medium (from right to left in
FIG. 1). The process units 10K, 10Y, 10M, and 10C form toner images
with black, yellow, magenta, and cyan toners (developers),
respectively.
[0021] Print heads 13K, 13Y, 13M, and 13C as exposure devices are
disposed to face respective photosensitive drums 11 (to be
described later) of the process units 10K, 10Y, 10M, and 10C. The
process units 10K, 10Y, 10M, and 10C are attached to a main body of
the image forming apparatus 1, and the print heads 13K, 13Y, 13M,
and 13C are attached to an upper cover of the image forming
apparatus 1.
[0022] The process units 10K, 10Y, 10M, and 10C have the same
configuration except for the toners, and thus may be referred to
simply as the process units 10. Also, the print heads 13K, 13Y,
13M, and 13C may be referred to simply as the print heads 13.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating an internal
configuration of a process unit 10. The process unit 10 includes
the photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier. The photosensitive
drum 11 is a cylindrical member with a photosensitive layer at its
periphery and is rotated in one direction (indicated by arrow d) by
a corresponding one of drive motors 211K, 211Y, 211M, and 211C (see
FIG. 5).
[0024] A charging roller 12 as a charging member, the print head 13
as an exposure device, a developing unit 14, and a cleaning member
18 are disposed around the photosensitive drum 11 along the
rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 11.
[0025] The charging roller 12 is disposed in contact with the
photosensitive drum 11, and rotates in accordance with the rotation
of the photosensitive drum 11. The charging roller 12 is applied
with a charging voltage by a charging voltage controller 202 (see
FIG. 5) and uniformly charges a surface of the photosensitive drum
11.
[0026] The print head 13 includes, for example, a substrate on
which light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a drive circuit are mounted,
and a lens array, and is positioned so that light emitted from the
LEDs is focused on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. The
print head 13 is driven by an exposure controller 203 (see FIG. 5)
and exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 to form an
electrostatic latent image.
[0027] The developing unit 14 includes a developing roller 15 as a
developer carrier disposed to abut the photosensitive drum 11, a
supply roller 16 as a supply member disposed to abut or face the
developing roller 15, and a developing blade 17 pressed against the
developing roller 15.
[0028] The developing roller 15 is applied with a developing
voltage having the same polarity (e.g., a negative polarity) as the
charging polarity of the photosensitive drum 11, by a developing
voltage controller 204 (see FIG. 5) and causes toner to adhere to
the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 11, thereby forming
a toner image. The supply roller 16 is applied with a supply
voltage by a supply voltage controller 205 (see FIG. 5) and
supplies toner to the developing roller 15. The developing blade 17
regulates the thickness of a toner layer on a surface of the
developing roller 15.
[0029] A toner cartridge 19 as a developer container is attached
above the developing unit 14. The toner cartridge 19 includes a
toner storing portion 19a that stores toner (indicated by reference
character T), and a shutter 19c that opens and closes a toner
supply opening 19b provided in a bottom portion of the toner
storing portion 19a. The toner cartridge 19 supplies the toner to
the developing unit 14.
[0030] The cleaning member 18 is a blade or roller disposed to abut
the surface of the photosensitive drum 11, and removes toner (or
residual toner) remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum
11 after transfer.
[0031] Returning to FIG. 1, the transfer unit 8 includes a transfer
belt 82, a drive roller 83 that drives the transfer belt 82, a
tension roller 84 that applies tension to the transfer belt 82, and
transfer rollers 81K, 81Y, 81M, and 81C as transfer members.
[0032] The transfer belt 82 is stretched around the drive roller 83
and tension roller 84. The drive roller 83 is rotated by a belt
drive motor 212 (see FIG. 5) and causes the transfer belt 82 to
travel in a predetermined traveling direction (indicated by arrow B
in FIG. 1). The transfer belt 82 holds the medium P and conveys it
along the process units 10K, 10Y, 10M, and 10C.
[0033] The transfer rollers 81K, 81Y, 81M, and 81C are disposed to
face the respective photosensitive drums 11 of the process units
10K, 10Y, 10M, and 10C with the transfer belt 82 therebetween. The
transfer rollers 81K, 81Y, 81M, and 81C are applied with transfer
voltages by a transfer voltage controller 206 (see FIG. 5) and
transfer the toner images on the respective photosensitive drums 11
onto the medium P on the transfer belt 82.
[0034] The fixing device 2 is disposed downstream of the image
forming portion 5 in the conveying direction of the medium P. The
fixing device 2 fixes the toner image transferred onto the medium P
in the image forming portion 5 to the medium P. The fixing device 2
will be described later.
[0035] A switching guide 101 that switches the conveying path of
the medium P is disposed downstream of the fixing device 2 in the
conveying direction of the medium P. The switching guide 101 guides
the medium P conveyed from the fixing device 2 selectively to a
discharge conveying path D or to a reconveying path E.
[0036] The sheet discharge mechanism 9 includes pairs of discharge
rollers 91 and 92 disposed along the discharge conveying path D,
and discharge the medium P guided to the discharge conveying path D
by the switching guide 101 to the outside of the image forming
apparatus 1. A stacking portion 93 on which the medium P discharged
by the pairs of discharge rollers 91 and 92 is stacked is provided
in the upper cover of the image forming apparatus 1.
[0037] For duplex printing, the image forming apparatus 1 also
includes a reconveying mechanism 100 that reverses the medium P
with the toner image fixed thereto and conveys it to the conveying
path A. The reconveying mechanism 100 includes a pair of conveying
rollers 102, a switching guide 103, and a pair of conveying rollers
104 that draw the medium P guided to the reconveying path E by the
switching guide 101 into a retreat path F and then feed it in the
reverse direction.
[0038] The reconveying mechanism 100 also includes pairs of
conveying rollers 105, 106, 107, 108, and 109 that convey the
medium P fed by the pair of conveying rollers 104, to the conveying
path A along a return path G. The return path G joins the conveying
path A on the upstream side of the pair of conveying rollers 74.
The medium P conveyed to the conveying path A through the return
path G is conveyed by the pairs of conveying rollers 74 and 75 to
the image forming portion 5. When the image forming apparatus 1 has
no duplex printing function, the reconveying mechanism 100 can be
omitted.
[0039] In FIG. 1, a direction in which the medium P moves when
passing through the fixing device 2 is taken as a Y direction, a
width direction of the medium P passing through the fixing device 2
is taken as an X direction. The X direction is parallel to axial
directions of the photosensitive drum 11 and the rollers (i.e.,
charging roller 12, developing roller 15, and supply roller 16) of
each process unit 10. A direction perpendicular to both the X and Y
directions is taken as a Z direction.
<Configuration of Fixing Device>
[0040] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the
fixing device 2 of the embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the
fixing device 2 includes a fixing belt 21 as a belt, a fixing
roller 22 as a fixing member, a heater 23 as a heating element, a
heat transfer member 28, a pressure pad 24 as a pressing member, a
pressure roller 25 as a pressure member, and a temperature sensor
27.
[0041] The fixing belt 21, which is an endless belt, is stretched
around the fixing roller 22, the heat transfer member 28, a guide
member 34, and the pressure pad 24, and moves in the direction
indicated by arrow M1. The fixing belt 21 has a width in a
direction perpendicular to both the moving direction indicated by
arrow M1 and the thickness direction. The moving direction of the
fixing belt 21 indicated by arrow M1 will be referred to as the
"belt moving direction."
[0042] The heater 23 is a sheet heater including a substrate,
heating resistance wire disposed on a surface of the substrate, and
a protective layer covering the heating resistance wire. The heater
23 has a heating surface 23a. The heater 23 is disposed so that the
heating surface 23a faces an inner surface of the fixing belt
21.
[0043] The heat transfer member 28 is disposed between the heater
23 and the fixing belt 21, and transfers heat from the heater 23 to
the fixing belt 21. The heat transfer member 28 has a contact
surface 28a in contact with the fixing belt 21, and has, opposite
the contact surface 28a, a recess 28b in which the heater 23 is
placed. The contact surface 28a is a curved surface projecting
toward the fixing belt 21. The heat transfer member 28 is supported
rotatably about a supporting point 28c provided near an end of the
heat transfer member 28 in the positive Y direction.
[0044] A pressure plate 29 is disposed in the recess 28b of the
heat transfer member 28 so that the pressure plate 29 abuts a back
side of the heater 23. A spring 31 as an urging member is disposed
between a support 33 attached to a main body frame 20 (see FIG. 1)
of the fixing device 2 and the pressure plate 29. The spring 31
urges the heat transfer member 28 toward the fixing belt 21 through
the pressure plate 29. The heat transfer member 28 is pressed
against the inner surface of the fixing belt 21 due to the urging
by the spring 31.
[0045] The fixing roller 22 is disposed inside the fixing belt 21
and is in contact with the inner surface of the fixing belt 21. The
fixing roller 22 is a roller whose axial direction extends parallel
to the X direction. Specifically, the fixing roller 22 includes a
metal core 22a and an elastic layer 22b disposed on an outer
periphery of the metal core 22a. The metal core 22a is made of, for
example, aluminum, and the elastic layer 22b is made of, for
example, silicone rubber.
[0046] Both ends of the metal core 22a in the X direction are
supported by bearings disposed in the main body frame 20. A drive
system is connected to one end of the metal core 22a in the X
direction and transmits driving force from a fixing drive motor 214
(see FIG. 5) to the end of the metal core 22a. Here, the fixing
roller 22 rotates in the direction indicated by arrow R1 about a
rotational axis C1 extending in the X direction.
[0047] The pressure pad 24 is disposed inside the fixing belt 21
and is in contact with the inner surface of the fixing belt 21. The
pressure pad 24 is located upstream of the fixing roller 22 in the
belt moving direction. The pressure pad 24 is urged toward the
pressure roller 25 by a spring 32 as an urging member mounted to
the support 33.
[0048] The pressure pad 24 includes a main body 24a and an elastic
body 24b disposed on the fixing belt 21 side of the main body 24a.
The main body 24a is made of, for example, metal or resin, and the
elastic body 24b is made of, for example, silicone rubber. The
elastic body 24b is pressed against the pressure roller 25 with the
fixing belt 21 therebetween.
[0049] The pressure roller 25 is disposed to face the fixing roller
22 and pressure pad 24 through the fixing belt 21. The pressure
roller 25 is a roller whose axial direction extends parallel to the
X direction, and is supported rotatably about a rotational axis C2
extending in the X direction. The pressure roller 25 includes a
metal core 25a and an elastic layer 25b disposed on an outer
periphery of the metal core 25a. The metal core 25a is made of, for
example, aluminum, and the elastic layer 25b is made of, for
example, silicone rubber.
[0050] The elastic layer 25b of the pressure roller 25 is pressed
against the elastic layer 22b of the fixing roller 22 and the
elastic body 24b of the pressure pad 24 through the fixing belt 21,
and forms a nip portion N between the elastic layer 25b and the
fixing belt 21. The pressure roller 25 follows rotation of the
fixing roller 22 and rotates in the direction indicated by arrow M2
about the rotational axis C2.
[0051] A halogen heater 26 may be disposed inside the pressure
roller 25 to facilitate increase in temperature of the surface of
the pressure roller 25.
[0052] The temperature sensor 27 is disposed inside the fixing belt
21, and is in contact with the inner surface of the fixing belt 21.
The temperature sensor 27 is disposed downstream of the heat
transfer member 28 and upstream of the pressure pad 24 in the belt
moving direction. The temperature sensor 27 is attached to the
support 33. The temperature sensor 27 is, for example, a
thermistor, and transmits temperature information indicating a
temperature of the fixing belt 21 to a fixing controller 209 (see
FIG. 5) to be described later.
[0053] The guide member 34, which guides the fixing belt 21 from
inside the fixing belt 21, is attached to the support 33. The guide
member 34 is disposed to surround the temperature sensor 27. The
guide member 34 guides the fixing belt 21, within a predetermined
section between the heat transfer member 28 and the pressure pad 24
in the belt moving direction.
[0054] A conveyance guide 35 is disposed in the negative Y
direction from the fixing belt 21 and pressure roller 25 (i.e.,
upstream of the fixing belt 21 and pressure roller 25 in the
conveying direction of the medium P). The conveyance guide 35
guides the medium P from the image forming portion 5 to the nip
portion N.
[0055] A separating member 36 and a conveyance guide 38 are
disposed in the positive Y direction from the fixing belt 21 and
pressure roller 25 (i.e., downstream of the fixing belt 21 and
pressure roller 25 in the conveying direction of the medium P). The
separating member 36 separates the medium P from the fixing belt 21
to prevent the medium P from winding around the fixing belt 21. The
conveyance guide 38 guides the medium P to the switching guide 101
(see FIG. 1).
<Configuration of Fixing Belt>
[0056] Next, a configuration of the fixing belt 21 of the
embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a
sectional structure of the fixing belt 21. The fixing belt 21
includes a substrate 40, an elastic layer 43, and a surface layer
(e.g., release layer) 44, in this order from the inner side. The
substrate 40 includes two layers: an insulating layer 41 and a
conductive layer 42.
[0057] The insulating layer 41 is made of a resin, such as
polyimide (PI), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), or polyether ether
ketone (PEEK), that is excellent in heat resistance and strength.
The insulating layer 41 preferably has a thickness of, for example,
10 to 100 .mu.m. By setting the thickness of the insulating layer
41 to 10 .mu.m or more, it is possible for the insulating layer 41
to withstand wear due to sliding contact with the members disposed
inside the fixing belt 21. By setting the thickness of the
insulating layer 41 to 100 .mu.m or less, it is possible to reduce
the time required for heat from the heater 23 to be transferred
throughout the fixing belt 21.
[0058] The conductive layer 42 includes the same resin as the
insulating layer 41 and a conductive filler as a conductivity
imparting agent (or conductive agent) dispersed in the resin. The
conductive filler is preferably, for example, metal, such as Au,
Cu, Al, Mg, or Ni, or carbon material, such as graphite, carbon
black, carbon nanofibers, or carbon nanotubes. The conductive layer
42 preferably has the same thickness as the insulating layer 41
(e.g., a thickness of 10 to 100 .mu.m).
[0059] The conductive layer 42 preferably has a volume resistivity
of 10.sup.9 to 10.sup.13.5 Qcm when applied with 100 V. By setting
the volume resistivity of the conductive layer 42 to 10.sup.9 Qcm
or more, it is possible to prevent dielectric breakdown of the
insulating layer 41. By setting the volume resistivity of the
conductive layer 42 to 10.sup.13.5.OMEGA.cm or less, it is possible
to reduce charging of the fixing belt 21 due to friction with the
above-described members. The volume resistivity is measured by a
method according to Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) K6911.
[0060] The elastic layer 43 is made of a material, such as a
heat-resistant elastomer (e.g., silicone rubber or fluorine resin),
that is excellent in heat resistance and elasticity. When the
elastic layer 43 is made of silicone rubber, the elastic layer 43
preferably has a thickness of 100 to 300 .mu.m.
[0061] The surface layer 44 is made of, for example, fluorine
resin, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluoroalkoxy
alkane (PFA), or perfluoroethylene propene copolymer (FEP). The
surface layer 44 preferably has a thickness of, for example, 5 to
50 .mu.m.
<Configuration of Control System>
[0062] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of
the image forming apparatus 1. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the image
forming apparatus 1 includes an image formation controller 200, an
interface (I/F) controller 201, the charging voltage controller
202, the exposure controller 203, the developing voltage controller
204, the supply voltage controller 205, the transfer voltage
controller 206, an image formation drive controller 207, a belt
drive controller 208, the fixing controller 209, and a sheet
conveyance drive controller 210.
[0063] The image formation controller 200 controls the entire image
forming apparatus 1, and includes a microprocessor, a read only
memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an input/output port,
and a timer. The image formation controller 200 receives print data
and control commands from a host device 220, such as a personal
computer, through the I/F controller 201 and performs sequence
control of the image forming apparatus 1.
[0064] The I/F controller 201 transmits information (such as
printer information) of the image forming apparatus 1 to the host
device 220. Also, the I/F controller 201 analyzes commands
transmitted from the host device 220 and processes data transmitted
from the host device 220.
[0065] The charging voltage controller 202 controls application of
the charging voltages to the respective charging rollers 12
(denoted by 12K, 12Y, 12M, and 12C in FIG. 5) of the process units
10K, 10Y, 10M, and 10C in accordance with commands from the image
formation controller 200.
[0066] The exposure controller 203 controls driving of the print
heads 13K, 13Y, 13M, and 13C according to the print data in
accordance with commands from the image formation controller
200.
[0067] The developing voltage controller 204 controls application
of the developing voltages to the respective developing rollers 15
(denoted by 15K, 15Y, 15M, and 15C in FIG. 5) of the process units
10K, 10Y, 10M, and 10C in accordance with commands from the image
formation controller 200.
[0068] The supply voltage controller 205 controls application of
the supply voltages to the respective supply rollers 16 (denoted by
16K, 16Y, 16M, and 16C in FIG. 5) of the process units 10K, 10Y,
10M, and 10C in accordance with commands from the image formation
controller 200.
[0069] The transfer voltage controller 206 controls application of
the transfer voltages to the transfer rollers 81K, 81Y, 81M, and
81C in accordance with commands from the image formation controller
200.
[0070] The image formation drive controller 207 controls driving of
the drive motors 211K, 211Y, 211M, and 211C to rotate the
respective photosensitive drums 11 of the process units 10K, 10Y,
10M, and 10C in accordance with commands from the image formation
controller 200. The charging rollers 12, developing rollers 15, and
supply rollers 16 rotate following the photosensitive drums 11.
[0071] The belt drive controller 208 drives the belt drive motor
212 to rotate the drive roller 83 in accordance with commands from
the image formation controller 200. The transfer belt 82 travels in
accordance with rotation of the drive roller 83. Also, the tension
roller 84 and transfer rollers 81K, 81Y, 81M, and 81C rotate
following the transfer belt 82.
[0072] The fixing controller 209 controls (e.g., on/off controls)
energization of the heater 23 of the fixing device 2 on the basis
of the detected temperature input from the temperature sensor 27.
The fixing controller 209 also drives the fixing drive motor 214 to
rotate the fixing roller 22 in accordance with commands from the
image formation controller 200. The fixing belt 21 and pressure
roller 25 rotate following the fixing roller 22. The pairs of
discharge rollers 91 and 92 are rotated by rotation transmitted
from the fixing drive motor 214.
[0073] The sheet conveyance drive controller 210 controls driving
of a sheet feed motor 215 and a conveyance motor 216 in accordance
with commands from the image formation controller 200. The sheet
feed motor 215 rotates the pickup roller 71. The conveyance motor
216 rotates the feed roller 72, pairs of conveying rollers 74 and
75, and pairs of conveying rollers 102 and 104 to 109.
<Operation of Image Forming Apparatus>
[0074] The operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will now be
described. Upon receiving a print command from the host device 220,
the image formation controller 200 of the image forming apparatus 1
rotates the pickup roller 71 to feed a medium P from the sheet feed
cassette 70 and conveys the medium P to the image forming portion 5
by means of the feed roller 72 and pairs of conveying rollers 74
and 75.
[0075] The image formation controller 200 also rotates the
respective photosensitive drums 11 of the process units 10K, 10Y,
10M, and 10C. As the photosensitive drums 11 rotate, the surfaces
of the photosensitive drums 11 are charged by the charging rollers
12 and then exposed by the print heads 13 to have electrostatic
latent images formed. The electrostatic latent images formed on the
surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11 are developed with toner by
the developing units 14, so that toner images are formed on the
surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11.
[0076] The medium P conveyed to the image forming portion 5 is
conveyed by the transfer belt 82 and sequentially passes through
the process units 10K, 10Y, 10M, and 10C. At this time, the toner
images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 11 are
transferred onto the medium P on the transfer belt 82 by the
transfer rollers 81K, 81Y, 81M, and 81C. Toner remaining on the
photosensitive drums 11 after the transfer is removed by the
cleaning members 18.
[0077] In the fixing device 2, in accordance with commands from the
image formation controller 200, the heater 23 is energized to
generate heat. Also, the fixing roller 22 is rotated by power
transmitted from the belt drive motor 212. The fixing belt 21 and
pressure roller 25 also rotate following the rotation of the fixing
roller 22. The heat from the heater 23 transfers to the fixing belt
21 through the heat transfer member 28 and heats the fixing belt
21.
[0078] The medium P from the transfer belt 82 is conveyed to the
nip portion N of the fixing device 2, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
When the medium P passes through the nip portion N, the toner image
on the medium P is subjected to heat and pressure, and fixed to the
medium P.
[0079] The medium P to which the toner image has been fixed by the
fixing device 2 is guided to the discharge conveying path D by the
switching guide 101, discharged by the pairs of discharge rollers
91 and 92 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1, and
placed on the stacking portion 93.
[0080] In the case of duplex printing, the medium P is guided to
the reconveying path E by the switching guide 101, and conveyed
along the return path G by the pairs of conveying rollers 102,
switching guide 103, and pairs of conveying rollers 104 to 109 of
the reconveying mechanism 100. The medium P is conveyed to the
conveying path A through the return path G, and conveyed again by
the pairs of conveying rollers 74 and 75 to the image forming
portion 5, in which a toner image is formed on the opposite side of
the medium P.
<Configuration for Reducing Accumulation of Charge on Fixing
Belt>
[0081] Next, a configuration for reducing accumulation of charge on
the fixing belt 21 in the embodiment will be described. The fixing
belt 21 moves in contact with the members (e.g., the temperature
sensor 27) disposed inside the fixing belt 21, and thus tends to be
frictionally charged. When charge accumulates on the fixing belt
21, paper dust or toner can be attracted by the electrostatic force
and adhere to the fixing belt 21.
[0082] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of
image unevenness caused by paper dust adhering to the fixing belt
21. Arrow F indicates the conveying direction of the medium P.
Here, it is assumed that the temperature sensor 27 is disposed, for
example, at a central portion of the fixing belt 21 in the width
direction (i.e., X direction) of the fixing belt 21, but this is
not mandatory.
[0083] When the fixing belt 21 is charged due to friction with the
temperature sensor 27, charge accumulates on a part of the outer
surface of the fixing belt 21 corresponding to the temperature
sensor 27 and causes paper dust or toner to adhere to the part of
the fixing belt 21. This causes a streak 111 at a position
corresponding to the temperature sensor 27 (e.g., a center in the
width direction) in an image 110 printed on a surface of the medium
P. When paper dust adheres to the fixing belt 21, a light streak
occurs; when toner adheres to the fixing belt 21, a dark streak
occurs. Thus, to reduce accumulation of charge, the present
embodiment is configured as follows.
[0084] As described above, the substrate 40 of the fixing belt 21
is composed of two layers: the insulating layer 41, and the
conductive layer 42 located on the outer side of the insulating
layer 41. The insulating layer 41 is made of an insulating resin,
and the conductive layer 42 is made of an insulating resin with a
conductive filler.
[0085] Samples 1 to 10 of the fixing belt 21 were produced. For
each sample, the insulating layer 41 was made of polyimide, and the
conductive layer 42 was made of polyimide with carbon black as a
conductive filler dispersed therein. The content of the conductive
filler in the conductive layer 42 was varied among samples 1 to
10.
[0086] FIG. 8 shows the content of the conductive filler in each
sample. The content of the conductive filler is expressed as a
percentage by weight of the conductive filler with respect to the
polyimide as a base material. For each sample, the insulating layer
41 was 53 .mu.m in thickness, and the conductive layer 42 was 32
.mu.m in thickness. For each sample, a corona discharge at 7000 V
was applied to the sample, and a dielectric relaxation rate (or
charge decay rate) R 10 seconds after the application of the corona
discharge was measured. The dielectric relaxation rate R is
expressed by the following equation:
R=(C0-C10)/C0.times.100 (%),
where CO is a charge amount (i.e., initial charge amount) on the
fixing belt 21 at the time of the corona discharge, and C10 is a
charge amount on the fixing belt 21 10 seconds after the corona
discharge.
[0087] Since the charge amount (or surface charge density) is
proportional to the surface potential of the fixing belt 21, the
dielectric relaxation rate was actually measured as follows.
[0088] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the method of
measuring the dielectric relaxation rate of the fixing belt 21. The
dielectric relaxation rate was measured by a measurement device 60.
As the measurement device 60, a dielectric relaxation analysis
system (DRA-2000, manufactured by Quality Engineering Associates)
was used.
[0089] The measurement device 60 includes a cylindrical conductive
support 65 for supporting the fixing belt 21 from inside. The
conductive support 65 is grounded through a resistor 66. A carrier
61 with a corona discharge electrode 62 and a probe (electrometer)
63 is disposed to face the surface of the fixing belt 21 mounted to
the conductive support 65.
[0090] The voltage of the corona discharge by the corona discharge
electrode 62 was 7000 V. Specifically, the corona discharge
electrode 62 was applied with 7000 V to apply the corona discharge
to the fixing belt 21. This voltage corresponds to an actual
surface potential of the fixing belt 21 of the fixing device 2
during operation of the image forming apparatus 1. Here, the
surface potential (i.e., initial surface potential) V0 of the
fixing belt 21 at the time of the corona discharge and the surface
potential (referred to below as the residual surface potential) V10
of the fixing belt 21 10 seconds after the corona discharge were
measured by the probe 63.
[0091] Each of the initial surface potential V0 and the residual
surface potential V10 was measured by making measurements while
moving the carrier 61 in the axial direction along the surface of
the fixing belt 21, and averaging the measurements.
[0092] The dielectric relaxation rate R 10 seconds after the
application of the corona discharge was obtained by
R=(V0-V10)/V0.times.100 (%).
[0093] FIG. 8 shows the measured dielectric relaxation rate R of
each of the samples 1 to 10.
[0094] Further, for each of the samples 1 to 10, the sample was
mounted to the fixing device 2 of the image forming apparatus 1,
and a test pattern was printed on media P with black toner by the
image forming apparatus 1. As the test pattern, a 2.times.2 image
was used. The 2.times.2 image is an image obtained by repeatedly
printing a 2.times.2 dot image with a spacing of 2 dots in the
horizontal direction and vertical direction.
[0095] After printing of the test pattern on the media P, adhesion
of paper dust and toner to the surface of the fixing belt 21 was
determined by visually observing the surface of the fixing belt
21.
[0096] When neither adhesion of paper dust nor adhesion of toner
was observed, the fixing belt 21 was determined as "Good". When
adhesion of paper dust or toner was observed, the fixing belt 21
was determined as "Poor". However, even when adhesion of paper dust
or toner was observed, if its amount is slight and insufficient to
affect printed images, the fixing belt 21 was determined as
"Fair".
[0097] Also, adhesion of paper dust and toner to the surface of the
pressure roller 25 was determined by visually observing the surface
of the pressure roller 25, in the same manner as the fixing belt
21.
[0098] FIG. 8 shows, for each sample, the content of the conductive
filler, the dielectric relaxation rate, the result of the
determination of the surface of the fixing belt 21, and the result
of the determination of the surface of the pressure roller 25.
[0099] As shown in FIG. 8, for sample 1, whose dielectric
relaxation rate 10 seconds after the application of the corona
discharge at 7000 V was 9.1%, adhesion of paper dust or toner was
observed on the surface of the fixing belt 21. For sample 2, whose
dielectric relaxation rate was 9.5%, adhesion of paper dust or
toner insufficient to affect printed images was observed on the
surface of the fixing belt 21.
[0100] For sample 10, whose dielectric relaxation rate 10 seconds
after the application of the corona discharge at 7000 V was 31.4%,
adhesion of paper dust or toner was observed on both the surface of
the fixing belt 21 and the surface of the pressure roller 25. For
sample 9, whose dielectric relaxation rate was 28.9%, adhesion of
paper dust or toner insufficient to affect printed images was
observed on both the surface of the fixing belt 21 and the surface
of the pressure roller 25.
[0101] This is thought to be because, when the dielectric
relaxation rate is too small, a large amount of charge remains on
the fixing belt 21, causing charged paper dust or toner to adhere
to the fixing belt 21, and on the other hand, when the dielectric
relaxation rate is too large, charge transfers from the fixing belt
21 to the pressure roller 25, causing charged paper dust or toner
to adhere to the pressure roller 25.
[0102] The above results show that when the dielectric relaxation
rate 10 seconds after the application of the corona discharge at
7000 V is within the range of 9.5 to 28.9%, no adhesion of paper
dust and toner sufficient to affect printed images occurs on the
surfaces of the fixing belt 21 and pressure roller 25, so that good
images are produced.
[0103] The above results also show that when the dielectric
relaxation rate 10 seconds after the application of the corona
discharge at 7000 V is within the range of 10.1 to 27.4%, adhesion
of paper dust and toner to the surfaces of the fixing belt 21 and
pressure roller 25 is further reduced, so that better images are
produced.
[0104] From the above results, by setting the dielectric relaxation
rate 10 seconds after applying a corona discharge at 7000 V to the
fixing belt 21 within the range of 9.5 to 28.9% (more preferably
10.1 to 27.4%), it is possible to reduce adhesion of paper dust and
toner to the fixing belt 21 and pressure roller 25, thereby
producing high-quality images.
<Advantages of Embodiment>
[0105] As described above, the fixing device 2 of the embodiment
includes the fixing belt 21 as a belt, the heater 23 as a heating
element that heats the fixing belt 21, and the pressure roller 25
as a pressure member that forms a nip portion between the pressure
roller 25 and the fixing belt 21, the dielectric relaxation rate of
the fixing belt 21 measured 10 seconds after applying a corona
discharge at 7000 V to the fixing belt 21 being greater than or
equal to 9.5% and less than or equal to 28.9%. With this
configuration, it is possible to reduce accumulation of charge on
the fixing belt 21. As a result, it is possible to reduce adhesion
of paper dust and toner, thereby producing high-quality images.
[0106] By setting the dielectric relaxation rate measured 10
seconds after applying a corona discharge at 7000 V to the fixing
belt 21 to be greater than or equal to 10.1% and less than or equal
to 27.4%, it is possible to enhance the effect of reducing adhesion
of paper dust and toner, thereby producing higher-quality
images.
[0107] The fixing belt 21 includes the insulating layer 41 located
on the innermost side of the fixing belt 21, the conductive layer
42 formed on the surface of the insulating layer 41, the elastic
layer 43 formed on the surface of the conductive layer 42, and the
surface layer 44 formed on the surface of the elastic layer 43.
Thus, by changing the content of the conductive filler (or
conductivity imparting agent) in the conductive layer 42, it is
possible to control the ease of escape of charge.
[0108] The fixing device 2 includes, inside the fixing belt 21, the
fixing roller 22 disposed so that the fixing belt 21 is sandwiched
between the fixing roller 22 and the pressure roller 25. Thereby,
it is possible to form a stable nip portion between the fixing
roller 22 and the pressure roller 25.
[0109] The fixing device 2 includes, inside the fixing belt 21, the
pressure pad 24 disposed adjacent to the fixing roller 22 in the
moving direction of the fixing belt 21. Thereby, it is possible to
form the wide nip portion N between the fixing roller 22 and the
pressure roller 25 and between the pressure pad 24 and the pressure
roller 25. This can improve fixation of the toner image and also
allows the printing speed to be increased.
[0110] The fixing device 2 includes the temperature sensor 27
disposed in contact with the inner surface of the fixing belt 21.
Thereby, the temperature of the fixing belt 21 can be detected
accurately.
[0111] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment
described above; it can be practiced in various other aspects
without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0112] For example, although the pressure pad 24 is provided in the
above embodiment, the pressure pad 24 may be omitted. Also,
although in the above embodiment, the heat transfer member 28 makes
contact with the fixing belt 21 from inside the fixing belt 21, the
heat transfer member 28 may make contact with the fixing belt 21
from outside the fixing belt 21.
[0113] Although in the above embodiment, the pressure roller 25 is
provided to form the nip portion N, a non-roller shaped sliding
member may be provided instead of the pressure roller 25. Also,
although in the above embodiment, the fixing roller 22 is used as a
drive source, the pressure roller 25 may be used as a drive
source.
* * * * *